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10 Dorm Organization Tips Students Need to Know
We all know how chaotic life in college can be at times, and for many students, their dorm rooms reflect that — messy, cluttered, and completely unorganized. When you first move in, your dorm might look great, but once you’re a few months into the semester, it becomes challenging to keep it that way.
The dorm organization tips below will help you maximize the small amount of space you have in your dorm so it stays organized from move-in day all the way to finals week. Now, you’ll have a peaceful living space that reduces anxiety and promotes a healthier lifestyle.
1. Make the Most of Closet Space
Traditional dorm rooms come with very little storage space, so maximizing every square inch of your closet is important — there’s specific items that help with that. The best addition you can get for your closet is a hanging storage organizer. Hang up one of these in your closet to create extra shelving to store and neatly organize clothes and accessories without cramming them everywhere.
You can also save space in your closet with specially designed closet organizer hangers that hold multiple shirts at once. The hooks on both sides of the hangers allow you to hang them horizontally or fold them up to hang vertically to create extra space.
2. Utilize Space Under Your Bed
A smart way to create extra storage in your dorm is to utilize the space under your bed. First, you have to figure out how much space you actually have available. Some dorm beds are lofted, which means the bed is raised high enough to fit a desk under. Other bed frames can be raised to fit large items but not high enough for a desk.
Luckily, there’s a variety of storage options that will keep your things organized under your bed regardless of how much space there is. If you want to find the best storage solutions for under your dorm bed, check out Dormco. They even have a selection of bed risers that can be used to create extra space.
3. Find Multifunctional Furniture
Furniture can enhance the look and feel of a dorm but can take up a lot space. Multifunctional furniture creates more space-efficient living by performing other functions, like adding hidden storage or compact seating, besides just being decorative. This type of furniture allows you to get the most out of your dorm and transforms it into a place you’ll enjoy spending time in.
A few specific multifunctional furniture items I recommend for dorms are a storage ottoman, pillow headboard, and a shoe rack bench. You can also check out this unique, multipurpose shelf lamp. It has a built-in charging station with two USB ports, a power socket, and a drawer.
4. Create a Kitchen Area
Most traditional dorm rooms don’t have a kitchen area, so if you’re looking to add appliances, food storage, and other kitchen essentials to your dorm, you’ll have to take a DIY approach. First, you’ll need to figure out what appliances are allowed in your dorm — mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, etc — then build around those items.
As you know by now, space is a premium, so a compact shelving unit is best for keeping everything organized and providing you with a prep area without taking up too much room. If you need more storage for foods and other cooking essentials, considering getting a mini fridge stand, fridge caddy, or a kitchen cart.
5. Hang Up a Calendar
A whiteboard calendar makes it easy to visualize your monthly schedule so you can plan ahead and be better prepared. Once you hang it up in your dorm, you’ll be able to check it in the morning before you leave for class so you don’t forget any important due dates, appointments, or meetings. It’s also a fun way to leave notes or reminders for your roommate.
6. Go Vertical
Utilizing the vertical space available in your room is one of the best ways to increase dorm organization. And it creates extra storage you never realized you could have in such a small area. When it comes to hanging things on your walls, command hooks will be your best friend.
Their strong adhesive will easily stick to the walls in any dorm and are great for hanging jackets, backpacks, and hats. They can also be used to hang lights and decorations for a more homy living space. Additionally, you can use over-the-door organizers and hanging storage bags for more vertical storage.
7. Remove Clutter
Letting clutter build up in your dorm can have a severe impact on your mental and physical health. As the clutter starts to increase, your dorm will become an unhealthy work environment and living space, which can cause stress and anxiety.
To be sure clutter doesn’t become a problem in your dorm, it’s important to clean out all your storage areas periodically. If you have a lot of clothes you find yourself not wearing, take them back home at the end of the semester.
Throw out papers and supplies around your desk that you don’t need anymore. Also, make sure you’re using effective storage solutions, like the ones mentioned here.
8. Maximize Desk Space
Your dorm room desk is where you’ll likely be spending a lot of time studying and working on assignments: keeping it organized is crucial to staying productive. You can make full use of your desk space with a desk bookshelf.
Having one on your desk can add an extra element of storage that will keep all your textbooks, school supplies, and other essentials organized so you have plenty of work space. You can also add a drawer organizer set to your desk to keep everything neatly arranged and easily accessible.
9. Add Extra Storage
If you’re someone who tends to bring a lot to college, you might need some extra storage space for all your things. And even if you’re more of a minimalist, it’s still a good idea to have storage available just in case you need it.
Since most dorms serve as a work space, bedroom, entertainment area, dining room, and living room, it can be difficult keeping it well organized all the time. Luckily, there’s a number of excellent storage solutions that’ll fit nicely in your dorm and prevent it from becoming a cluttered mess. Here’s a few extra storage items to consider adding to your dorm:
10. Plan Ahead
Once the semester starts, you’re going to be busy with coursework and all your other college commitments. You likely won’t have much time or energy to focus on organizing your dorm. That’s why it’s important to have a dorm organization plan before the semester begins.
Start by figuring out how much you plan on bringing with you on move-in day. From there, you can decide what specific items you’ll need to keep everything in your dorm neat and organized throughout the year. Then once you go on break and have more free time, you can make adjustments for the next semester.
